A calm retreat above the bustle

You may recognize these arched windows overlooking Pike Place Market and Elliott Bay. They frame a hidden space on the top floor of the Corner Market building that used to house Chez Shea restaurant but has been home to Storyville Coffee since last fall.

The upscale coffeehouse was the first for the Bainbridge Island roaster that started as an e-commerce business in 2006 and has since opened stores at First and Madison and Queen Anne Avenue.
My 19-year-old hipster nephew introduced me to the Pike Place location last summer and I’ve wanted to come back ever since. Comfy leather chairs and great views make it a nice spot to hide from the bustling Market scene downstairs or take refuge from the rainy days we’ve been having.

On a recent soggy morning I chatted with college students meeting for homework and other regulars who raved about the French-pressed coffee and said the cafe has “the energy of Seattle.”

I found my $4.38 latte a bit too pricey, but the visit gave me a chance to relax and draw the perfectly-shaped foam heart in my cup.

About Seattle Sketcher

Gabriel Campanario has been living and drawing in Seattle since '06. He's a Seattle Times artist, founder of Urban Sketchers nonprofit, Spaniard, husband and father. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.